Farmers warned dog walkers to not approach cattle at this time of year as they were often very protective of their new-born calves.

The trio were walking along the well-known path, which leads from Turleigh to a crossing over the River Avon canal, shortly before 12.40pm.

Paramedics described “chaotic” scenes when they arrived to find the two men suffering “very severe and life threatening” injuries.

Despite their desperate efforts and “surgical intervention”, the pensioner died at the scene after suffering a cardiac arrest.

His unnamed brother was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol by Air Ambulance where he was tonight in a stable condition.

The field, which is believed to be used by local farmer Brian Godwin, is a popular shortcut for walkers and ramblers leading to Avoncliff railway station and a local pub.

The herd, which included Hereford and Angus cows, were today removed from the scene to a nearby field and police are now preparing a report for the coroner. A post mortem examination was due to be completed later.

Ken Roberts, the proprietor of the local Cross Guns canal-side pub, said health and safety bosses had visited the fields last year.

"Dogs do aggravate the animals it seems, but it has also happened to people who didn't have dogs,” he said.

"It's a beautiful area, juxtaposed by these massive animals - it's difficult to know what should be done to stop it happening again."

Paul Harris, a retired local resident who walks his dogs through the fields, said it was concerning.

"It makes me wonder if there is a rogue cow, because I believe there wasn't even any calves in the field," he said.

Mr Godwin, who either rents or owns the land where the tragedy occurred, is understood to lives two miles away, in Winsley Hill, Bath. Tonight a woman at the farm house said nobody wanted to comment.

An HSE spokesman said: "HSE are investigating this incident jointly with Wiltshire Police and an inspector has been to the site." He declined to comment further.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said the cattle had been moved and posed "no threat to other members of the public".

In 2011, Winsley engineer David Billington was left with broken neck bones after being knocked over by a cow on a footpath between Avoncliff and Winsley Cricket Club.

Just three years earlier another man suffered head injuries and a broken collarbone while walking his dog on farmland in the area.